How to Grow Pimento Peppers in Acidic Soil

Prepare a soil bed by mixing in some potting soil or sand.

Test the soil pH with a tester kit. Pimentos prefer a moderately acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.

Adjust the pH level of the soil as necessary. If the soil is below 5.0, your plant will benefit from raising the pH. To raise the pH by one unit, apply limestone at a rate of 2 1/2 lb. per every 100 square feet if the soil is sandy or 9 lb. if the soil is clay-like. If using wood ashes, apply 3 to 4 lb. to the sandy soil or 9 to 10 lb. for clay soil to reach the same result. If the soil is at a pH above 7.0, you can apply aluminum sulfate at a rate of 2 1/2 lb. for sandy soil and 5 to 6 lb. for clay soil per 100 square feet to lower the pH by one unit.

Plant peppers in 16-inch containers or directly in the garden bed spaced 24 to 30 inches apart and in rows 36 to 48 inches wide. Garden soil should ideally be amended with compost or organic matter. Spring or early summer is the best time to plant.

Provide water as often as needed to keep the soil moist. In hot, dry weather, daily watering may be required. Apply bark or other mulch to the base of the plant to conserve soil moisture around the roots.

Support plants by tying stakes to fruiting stems with twine as they mature or placing a small tomato cage around the plant early in its development.

Apply a fruit and vegetable fertilizer throughout the growing season, ideally with high levels of phosphorus and lower levels of nitrogen.

Harvest peppers about 75 to 80 days after planting seeds, cutting each pepper off along with a small length of stem for longer freshness. Peppers are about 3 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide when ready.